Britain has approved a £50-million ($67 million) Defence Growth Deal for Wales, designed to elevate the region’s contribution to the research, testing, and production of autonomous and uncrewed defense technologies.
The program focuses on increasing industrial strength, widening access to test infrastructure, and advancing skills development within the Welsh defense workforce. Under the arrangement, Wales will play a leading role in evaluating systems such as ISR platforms and unmanned aerial vehicles, including loitering and one-way strike drones.
The deal was signed at Cardiff Castle by Defence Secretary John Healey, First Minister Eluned Morgan, and Wales Secretary Jo Stevens. A cornerstone of the plan involves expanding industry access to Ministry of Defence testing assets, notably the Aberporth range. Regulators are also expected to work with the Civil Aviation Authority to enlarge designated flight corridors in central Wales, enabling expanded unmanned aircraft trials.
Additionally, the strategy supports smaller Welsh firms by simplifying security clearance processes and allowing more direct participation in classified procurement opportunities. The creation of a Defence Technical Excellence College by September 2027 is planned to cultivate engineering talent for the autonomous systems field. The investment is projected to underpin thousands of jobs in design, testing, and manufacturing, building on the roughly 4,000 roles already sustained by more than £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in UK defense contracts awarded in Wales.
